Staffing shortages in health care have been a persistent challenge for many years, and the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated this issue. Increasing productivity isn’t just a wishlist item for many organizations—it’s necessary to retain staff and maintain quality care. New software platforms can help address this challenge and improve efficiency in healthcare staffing.
Sunwave Health is an integrated software platform for behavioral healthcare centers. Secure your patient data, make work easier for your teams, and deliver better patient care with our all-in-one solution. Call 561.576.6037 for more information.
Why There Are Health Care Staffing Shortages
In behavioral health care specifically, much of the staffing shortage stems from three main causes:
- Limited scopes of practice – Many behavioral health providers are limited in their ability to diagnose and treat patients independently. This leads to a high demand for physicians, who have the necessary authority to provide care.
- Reimbursement challenges – Many adults say that cost excludes them from getting mental health treatment, and reimbursement rates from insurance companies are often too low for providers to sustain their practice.
- Burnout – High patient-to-staff ratios and increased workload and stress can ultimately lead to burnout among many healthcare workers. Burnout can result in high turnover rates, further exacerbating the staffing shortage.
Having systems in place at your practice to address these issues can help improve efficiency and productivity, leading to better patient care and staff retention.
How Software Platforms Can Help
Software platforms like Sunwave Health can play a significant role in addressing the staffing shortage in healthcare. By streamlining administrative tasks and providing tools for more efficient workflows, software platforms can help alleviate workload and stress on healthcare workers.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A good CRM tracks patient data from the first encounter, making it easy for staff to follow up with patients and provide personalized care. By streamlining this process, healthcare workers can spend more time focusing on patient care rather than administrative tasks.
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
EHRs are essential in managing patient information and facilitating communication between providers. With an integrated EHR system in place, providers can easily access and exchange patient data, leading to better coordination of care.
Telehealth and Patient Engagement
During the pandemic, telehealth became a crucial tool in providing care to patients while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Software platforms like Sunwave Health offer telehealth capabilities, allowing patients to connect with their providers remotely for appointments and follow-ups.
Automated Workflows
Automated workflows help reduce human error and save time on administrative tasks. For example, scheduling appointments, billing, and managing insurance claims can all be automated through a software platform, freeing up staff to focus on patient care.
Same-Platform Messaging
Team-to-team communication and messaging can often be a time-consuming task, especially if multiple systems are used for different functions. With a software platform like Sunwave Health, all communications can happen within the same platform, making it easier and faster to coordinate care and respond to patient needs.
How You Can Improve Retention
Retention doesn’t rely on pizza parties or a casual dress code. It’s about creating an environment that supports your staff and addresses the underlying causes of the staffing shortage. By implementing software platforms like Sunwave Health, you can improve efficiency and productivity, leading to better staff retention.
You can also commit to more balanced patient-to-staff ratios, offer competitive salaries and benefits, and provide resources for mental health support. By addressing the root causes of burnout and turnover, you can create a more supportive and sustainable work environment.
Contact Sunwave Health Now
If you’re looking to improve efficiency and address staffing shortages in your healthcare organization, contact Sunwave Health today. Our integrated software platform can help streamline processes, improve communication and coordination of care, and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes and staff retention. Schedule a demo or call 561.576.6037 for more information on how Sunwave Health can benefit your practice.
